A fire can break out in any building, and in a large one it puts every occupant in serious danger. Fire is not the only reason people may need to get out, either: gas leaks, earthquakes, chemical spills and severe storms can all make an evacuation necessary. Surviving an emergency depends on knowing what to do, and holding fire drills on a regular schedule builds the knowledge and confidence people need to escape safely. A sound evacuation program rests on two things: planning ahead and practicing the plan.
Planning
- A plan gives everyone the information they need before an emergency ever happens. At work, managers and staff should map out together how they will leave the building. At a school, bring in every member of the staff, from teachers and office employees to custodians and cafeteria workers.
- As a group, create an evacuation plan that fits your building and the people in it. Keep it simple and easy to follow. Go over the plan together and walk the exit route so that everyone understands their role.
- Every school, workplace and apartment building should display an exit diagram, and all occupants should know where it is posted and what it shows.
- Install smoke alarms and keep them in working order. Make sure everyone recognizes the sound of the building's fire alarm and the smoke alarms and reacts the moment they hear one. Responding right away is what makes a fast, orderly evacuation possible.
- Leave calmly and in order to avoid confusion, panic and injuries. Nobody should shove past others to reach a door. Moving in single file is the best way to keep traffic flowing toward the exits.
- Plan for people who need extra help. Young children, older adults and people with disabilities may need assistance getting out. Place anyone with special needs as near an exit as you can, and train others to help them evacuate.
- Know two ways out. Every room in a home, school or workplace should have a main exit and a backup. If smoke or flames block the first route, take the second one. Point out every emergency exit as you walk through the plan.
- In buildings with more than one floor, always leave by the stairs and never by the elevator. An elevator can stall between floors or open its doors on the floor where the fire is burning.
- If smoke fills a room or hallway, get down on your hands and knees and crawl to the exit. The air near the floor is cleaner.
- Pick a meeting spot. A set gathering place outside the building is an essential part of any evacuation plan. Once you are there, count heads so you know who has made it out and who has not. When firefighters arrive, tell them right away if anyone is missing.
- Plan what to do if you are trapped. Think through your options in case you cannot get out right away. When possible, stay in a room that has a window to the outside, and keep doors shut between you and the fire. Look for things such as sheets, towels, curtains or large pieces of clothing that you can stuff into gaps around the door or wave to get rescuers' attention. Learn how to open the window to let smoke escape, but be ready to shut it quickly if the open window pulls more smoke into the room. If a phone is handy, call the fire department and give your location, even when crews are already on site. Stay low in the smoke until help reaches you.
Practice
- Once the plan is in place, rehearse it so everyone knows what to do. Hold fire drills and practice the escape routes several times throughout the year. Drills that come without warning feel more like a real emergency and make the practice more realistic.
- Choose a person to oversee each drill. This monitor sounds the alarm and adds realism by making people use their second exit or crawl low, for instance by holding up a card that says "smoke" or "exit blocked by fire." Timing how long it takes for the building to empty completely is part of the monitor's job as well.
- Apartment complexes and other multifamily housing, schools and workplaces should schedule their fire drills in coordination with the Fredville Fire Department.
- When the building is empty, take a head count at each meeting place to confirm that everyone took part and got out safely.
- After the drill, bring everyone back together inside to talk through questions and any problems that came up. Adjust the procedures where needed so the next drill goes even better.
- Remember: once you are out, stay out. Do not go back inside until fire officials tell you it is safe to return.
Fredville is a demonstration city built by Talk to Fred. Names, numbers and details on this page are sample content.